Drone propellers are one of the most important components of any drone. Without them your drone is useless – it obviously won’t fly!
The propellers do more than just get your drone into the air, they also have a huge impact on the speed your drone can cut through the air at, the sharpness of it’s turns, it;s ability to stay stable, the heights it is able to reach and more!
Some propellers are designed to make your drone far more efficient by slicing through the air more cleanly.
This reduces the RPMs required which means your drone will make less noise as there is less strain on your engine. This means that your flight times will be longer as your batteries will last longer.
Conversely, if you’re looking for propellers that will keep your drone stable allowing you to film high-quality footage then you will need propellers that have a greater pitch, giving them more contact so that they can maintain a more stable position.
Keep reading to find out about some propellers we recommend as well as several things you should be aware of when looking to buy your next set of drone rotors.
Drone
Features
Price
- clockwise propeller
- anti-clockwise propeller
- made from carbon fiber
The 6 Best Drone Propellers
If you’re looking for some new propellers which will improve the performance of your drone then here are 6 that we recommend:
- low noise
- quick release design
- increases efficiency
Mavic is a well-known drone manufacturer, if you have one of their drones then these low noise props are a great choice.
They feature an aerodynamic design which is designed specifically for quiet flying, this also means that less energy is consumed from powering the blades meaning you can enjoy extended flight times.
They also feature a quick-release function making them easy to switch out quickly as required.
These propellers are a great choice for anyone who doesn’t want to compromise the agility and maneuverability of their drone.
- Mavic 2 Low-Noise Propellers Compatible with Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 2 Zoom drones.
- These next-generation propellers adopt a brand new aerodynamic design, which results in quieter...
- Modernized for a quieter and longer flight.
- Nothing will end a day of shooting faster than a busted propeller. Make sure you have enough with...
- propellers are the same aerodynamic, low-noise designed props that are included with the Mavic 2 Pro...
- glass-reinforced polycarbonate
- well-balanced
- quiet
These brightly colored 3-blade props are made from an extremely tough reinforced glass polycarbonate mix which is very durable while also being well balanced, quiet, and packing some serious power.
They are 100% compatible with 200 210 230 250 FPV racing drones and 2205 2206 2207 2306 2307 brushless motors.
These props feature three blades meaning they are ideal for anyone who is looking for a high level of flight stability to allow for photography and filming.
- High Quality Guarantee:The new standard of EMAX RS2205 2300KV brushless motor is upgraded with...
- Strong Thrust Power: Produces over +1,000g of thrust using 4S and GF5045BN, is more stronger than...
- Well Capability: High N52 Magnets, the highest grade magnets, which is better acceleration, stopping...
- Rapid Cooling: The unique fins machined into the bell draw up cool air from the motor base and...
- Easy Installed: The Rotation direction of motor was marked on the from bell,making it easier to...
- clockwise propeller
- anti-clockwise propeller
- made from carbon fiber
Built specifically for Phantom 3 Pro & Phantom 2 series drones, these reinforced carbon fiber blades are built to be extra stiff.
This gives your drone extra thrust and crispness when turning.
They are also self-tightening, this means that they fasten in the opposite direction to the direction that they spin in spin so you don’t have to worry about loose blades falling off mid-flight!
These propellers are a great choice for anyone who doesn’t want to compromise the agility of their drone.
- Recommended by DJI to be used on Phantom 3 Professional, Advanced, Phantom 2 series, Flame
- Wheel series platforms and the E310/E305/E300 tuned propulsion systems
- With COMPOSITE HUB
- Can be used on the Phantom 3
- Includes two pair of propellers: 2 clockwise and 2 counter-clockwise propellers
- foldable design
- durable
- easy to install
These low-noise carbon fiber 3 blade propellers are compatible with DJI Mavic 2 Pro & Zoom drones.
They are built from high-strength carbon fiber which has had special surface treatment that helps them slice through the air lowering flight noise and maximizing flight time.
Each prop features three blades meaning these are best suited to bigger drones and are a great choice for anyone who is looking for a high level of flight stability to allow for photography and filming.
- 【Foldable Designed】More convenient for carrying and storing, make more fun to play with your...
- 【Noise Reduction】Full carbon fiber, light weight, low noise flying 3 blades. Perfectly...
- 【Protect Rotor Blades】Protect your rotor blades without disrupting the DJI Mavic 2 Pro & Zoom...
- 【Easy for Installation and Remove】The CW propellers is indicated by white nut on the center,...
- 【Package List】2 pairs 3-Blade propellers for DJI Mavic 2 Pro & Zoom
- reduced sound up to 4db
- high-quality nylon material
- rechargeable
If you’re looking for something a bit different to add a bit of a wow factor to your next flight then you can’t go wrong with LED props.
These particular propellers are designed specifically for the Mavic 2 (though there are plenty of other LED props available that will fit a wider range of drones). They feature 5 colors; red, blue, yellow, green, and white.
These LED propellers are made from high-quality nylon which helps reduce flight noise while providing good balance and stability.
- 50% less noise
- quick release design
- longer flight time
These 2nd generation stealth propellers are designed to improve the performance of the DJI Mavic AIR.
They reduce the sound of the original DJI Mavic Air blades by up to a 3.5dB (50%) and due to the energy saved you can get the same performance out of them with 20% lower RPMs, this means that the batteries last longer giving you almost three minutes more flight time!
These units are a great choice for racing drones as they will help improve the agility and maneuverability of your drone.
- Second Generation (V2) - Master Airscrew Stealth Propellers for Mavic Air
- Up to 3.5 dB lower noise (50% reduction in noise power)
- Up to 14% (2.8min) longer flight time, 20% RPMs reduction
- Included in the Set: 4 propellers (2CW and 2CCW), carry pouch, MAS stickers, and safety sheet.
- Quick release propellers, genuine upgrade over OEM Mavic Air propellers.
How Do Drone Blades Work?
Drone’s are made up of many parts including antennas, motors, LEDs, landing gears, and more but few of them are quite as essential as the propellers (okay maybe the motor is!).
Your drone’s propellers are the essential element that transforms the engine’s energy into flight.
They work in much the same way as a fan does, the blades slice through the air pushing it away. The thrust comes from the angle of the blades.
If the blades had no angle then they would slice cleanly through the air without moving any.
Having an angle on the blade means that the air is pushed creating thrust.
As the blades push the air away the air pushes back against the blade, as the speed of the blades increases the force from the air becomes sufficient to lift the drone off the ground.
To keep your drone stable once it is in the air two of the blades will spin clockwise while the other two will spin counterclockwise.
If all blades span in the same direction the whole drone would spin out of control, having the propellers spin in competing directions allows the drone to remain stable in the air.
Choosing the best drone prop for your quadcopter or other rigs
Finding the best drone props for your quadcopter is easy to do providing you know what you need.
Below are several different factors that you need to consider when choosing your next props.
If you need stability for filming or photography then you will need props that are very different to someone who is looking for new props for their racing drone.
If you need to ascend to crazy heights you will need very different props to someone who just wants to fly their drone around their back garden.
You will also need different props if you’re building your own drone like an Arduino drone.
Keep reading to find out exactly what you do (and don’t) need in your next set of quadcopter props:
Blade Length
Drones are by nature small and lightweight.
This means that they don’t need big long thick blades, short thin blades will be more than sufficient to give all but the heaviest of drones plenty of uplift.
Bigger blades mean that the motor has to produce a lot more power to get them to spin at the same speed as a smaller blade, this will drain the battery far more quickly.
If you want to use your drone to carry things then you will need bigger blades to create more uplift.
A typical drone with blades measuring approximately 5cm in length can’t really carry more than 300grams.
Bigger blades will increase the maximum weight capacity of your drone’s blades.
Blade Diameter
The greater the diameter of your blade the more contact it has with the air.
Much the same as with blade length propellers with greater diameters are usually more stable in the air than drones with smaller diameter propellers.
Smaller propellers put less strain on your motor as they require less energy to speed up so they are much more responsive and are better at maneuvering quickly.
If you plan on doing some filming with your drone or want to carry something with it then you should opt for larger diameter blades that provide more stability.
If you need a highly responsive drone for example if you are into drone racing, then smaller diameter blades are a far better choice.
Blade Pitch
Pitch is a measurement of the angle of the blades that has a direct impact on the amount of distance your drone travels with one rotation of the propeller.
The angle of your blades has a big impact on the pitch.
Drone blades with a significant angle on them cut further through the air than lower-pitched blades.
A large pitch should equate to greater speeds with lower RPMs.
However high pitch blades are not necessarily always desirable as they can create less torque and a more turbulent flight. They will also drain your batteries far more quickly resulting in reduced flight times.
Blade Balance
Quadcopter propellers all generate identical amounts of force and rotate at the same speed to balance the drone and make it easy to control.
To help balance your drone two of the propellers will turn clockwise while the other two will turn counter clockwise, this prevents your drone from spinning and allows it to easily hover in place.
Be aware when fitting your blades that each blade usually comes labelled as clockwise (CW) or counterclockwise (CCW).
Make sure you fit the right type of blade in the right place, if you use all CW blades your drone will not operate as efficiently as it should and will be more prone to spinning.
Number Of Blades
Drone propellers come in either 2 blade, 3 blade, or occasionally 4 blade varieties.
In most use cases 2 blades is preferable.
The extra energy required to power more blades quickly eats into your battery power.
Fewer blades give your drone greater maneuverability while maximizing battery life.
However if you want to send your drone to ridiculous heights for camera work then 3 or 4 blades will allow you to ascend further while remaining stable.
This is because the extra blades give the drone more air contact allowing it to be more steady in flight.
Material
Propellers typically are made from two materials; plastic and carbon fiber.
Plastic blades are cheap but are best avoided even on more affordable drones as they can cause balancing issues and are more prone to causing vibrations.
Carbon fiber blades are more expensive because they are much more finely tuned. This means they are well balanced, lightweight and, due to their lightness, offer greater revolutions per minute.
Unless you plan on crashing your drone for some reason then avoid buying plastic blades.
Folding & Non Folding Props
Folding props open out when the blades are turning and then fold back in when it stops.
The idea behind this is to reduce strain on the engine, particular during take-off when high RPMs are required.
If properly installed folding props should result in more efficient flight and lower vibrations, however they are best suited to larger drones.
Self-Locking
Some props feature a self-locking mechanism which makes blade installation far easier as these types of blades will lock themselves automatically into place and won’t be able to come off in flight (as they lock on in the opposite direction to the spin of the blade).
When To Install New Quadcopter Props
If your blades get damaged in a crash then you should always replace them.
While it may be tempting to bend them back into shape (many are malleable enough to do this with), the imperfections will impact their performance and there is always a danger that half a blade may come off mid-flight and propel painfully into someone.
If you notice any damage such as a chip or cut in your blades these too will impact flight performance. While small nicks they may look insignificant when a blade is spinning at 6000RPM+ any imperfections in a blade will be exacerbated and will negatively impact flight performance.
As a general rule if you have any doubt at all about the condition of a prop then swap it out for a new one to avoid damaging your drone.
For casual day to day use props can last for months, however, if you are aggressively racing your drone and need it to be highly responsive with every pitch and roll finely tuned then you may need to change your props multiple times in a few hours to ensure that you get the best possible performance.
Drone
Features
Price
- clockwise propeller
- anti-clockwise propeller
- made from carbon fiber